The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1905. THE GREAT NAVAL BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7835, 30 May 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1905. THE GREAT NAVAL BATTLE.

From the cabled news to hand on Saturday last it was evident that tho long expected naval engagement between Russia and Japan was about to become an accomplished fact.. Tho rumours as to the death of Admiral Hoshdestveriski were, like most sensational items of a similar nature, without any foundation beyond the fact that the Admiral was not in. good he.ilth. At last he scorns to have screwed up his courage to fight- 1 ing point and taken his fleet from tho China Sea where its presence for such a length of time lias been a*" source of irritation to the frieijdly Setting the prow of the flagship northwards towards Japan, the Russian Admfeal led his fleet into the waters of the Pacifc, evidently determined to fight- his way, if possible,. to Yladivqstock. He docs not appear to have taken the Bashec near to Formosa, but, the Hallnfaritf Channel, between the Batan Islands and the Philippines. It was somewhat a matt'tr'of conjecture as to which course he would then pursue out of the three that present* ed then.s -Ives. He could either leave the-pacific, enter the' Eastern Sea;and make for Corea Straits ; steain round the main island of Japan and force th\" Tsugaru Straits: or steam beyond Hokkaido, then passing between that place and Saghallen, sail south to Vladivos'tock. Apparently he decidixl on the quickest route for bringing about an engagement with

Japan, for by the special caWe news ,receiv«l on Monday morning a great battle was taking plaeo in Corea Straits. All the world 'wijl now be; keenly interested in the result of the first groat battle, with modern shijjs and guns. Admiral Togo has now a chance of displaying his ability as a naval commander r in chief. He and | all his oflicers should feel all; the more confidence in. their • chance of success by reason of the battle taking place in Jaganew waters'. The composition of the opposing fleets .is by this time fairly well known to the public. Ttoe strength of "in" the battleship squadron, with its slight margin of superiority. Capably used this force- should make its really formidable character felt. It is well armed, and with guns which outnumber the similar g r uns likely to be opposed to it. On the other hand, the battleship squadron of Japan is assisted by si/' splendid-division of eight armoured Cruisers equal to work ng in combination with t'heir heavier sisters, as regains both tactical mobility and fighting qualities, although the guns they curry are not s () heavy as the heaviest in the Russian battleships. While *gi%iftg;'every credit to the Japanese, for the Experience which they have gained in action, it would

be a mistake not to give credit also to the Russian admiral for having made., use of the six months during which his- ships have been in commission, to -gifre lus in en that training and practice which it the next best thing. ' It is, of course, probable that the cruisers ftossia and Gromoboi, together with any available torpedo boats at Vladivostock, will be utilised for creating a diversion in favor of the Baltic fleet, but Admiral Togo may safely. be relied upon to a,pticipah\ 'and be prepares! for that manoeuvre. Every available detail of news of the battle wiil be watched for with an eagerness which can only lie accounted* (tfrtty the inltfnse curiosity which Is felt as to the precision and destructive power of modern guns, and the resisting capabilities of the present thickly armoured ships, iloveover the tactical resources of the commanders will also be watched with the greatett- interest. The mon-i etary value of the units comprising the two fleets is gigantic, and whichever side gains the vistory the cost will be enormous, though it will serve all the l'owers as a reliable object lesson on the defects or otherwise of modern naval armament.